blood to touche blood whiche cause hathe be of grete confusyâ—â— In many londe and many Regyon Grounde and rote of vnhap and meschaunce The fyne concludynge alwaye in vengaunce As men haue seen by clere experyence And holy wryte recordeth in sentence How herodes falsly in his lyfe Vyolence toke his brothers wyfe For she was fayre and pleasaunte to his syght And kepte her styll by force thorugh his myght All be to her tytle hadde he noon And for her sake the holy man saynt Johon For his trouthe in pryson loste his hede Therfore I rede euery man take hede where soo he be prynce lorde or kynge That he be ware to eschewe suche weddynge Or that the swerde of vengaunce of manace Leste he lese happe fortune and grace Takynge ensample in all maner thynge Of Edyppus in Thebes crowned kynge All be that he wroughte of ignorauÌ„ce Full derke and blynde of his wofull chauÌ„ce And yf vnwyste he of Innocence As ye haue herde fylle in suche offence For whiche he was punysshed and brought low what ar they worthy that her errour know And fro the knotte lyste not to abstene Of suche sponsayle to god and man vnclene I can not seen nomore therof deuyse Demeth youre selfe that prudente ben wyse And Edyppus haue amonge in mynde Of whom the weddyng lyke as ye may fynde Vnhappy was and passynge odyous Infortuned and vngracyous I am wery and therof more to wryte The hatfull processe also to endyte I passe ouer fully of entente For Imynens was not there presente Nor Lucyna lyste not therto shyne Ne there was none of the musys nyne Of oure accorde for to make melodye For they songe not by heuenly Armonye Nother Clyo. nor Calyope One of the sustren in nombre thryes thre And they dyde whan Phylogye Ascended vp hye aboue the skye To be wedded this lady vertuous Vnto her lorde the god Marcuryus As Marcyan I named de Capelle In his booke of weddynge can you telle There concludynge in this maryage The Poete that whylom was soo sage That this lady called Sapyence I wedded was vnto Eloquence As it sat well by heuenly purueaunce Hem to be Joyned by knotte of alyaunce But bothe twoo sothly of entente Atte weddynge in Thebes were assente That caused after grete aduersyte For fynall ende of that solempnyte was sorowe and woo and destruccyon Vter ruyne of this royall toun There may noo man helpe it ne socoure For a tyme in Joye though they floure But atte weddynge platly for to telle The infortunat follr that were atte edippê° weddyng Cerberê° herebz Noye with her iii doughters drede fraude Trecherye treson pouÌ„te Indygence nede dethe cruell Mars was Cerberus cheef porter of helle And herebus fader to hatrede was there presente with his hole kynrede His wyfe also with her browes blake And her doughter sorowe for to make Hydous chered and vggely for to see Megera and Thesyphonee Allecto eke with laboure and enuye Drede and Fraude and false Trecherye Treson Pouerte Indygence and Nede And cruell Dethe in his rente wede wretchednesse complaynte and eke rage Ferfull pale derkenes croked age Cruell Mars as ony tygre wood Brennynge yre of vnkynde blood Fraternall hate depe sette the rote Saaf oonly dethe that there nas noo bote Assured othes atte fyne vntrewe All thise vnthryfty people were at the weddyng of Edyppê° Jocasta Alle these folke were atte this weddynge newe To make the towne desolate and bare As the story after shall declare But ay in Thebes with his walles stronge Edyppus regnyth many daye and longe And as myne auctoure wryte in wordes playne By Jocasta he hadde sones twayne Ethyocles and also Polymyte And in bookys as soundry clerkes wryte Doughters twoo full goodly on to see Of the whiche one hyghte Antygonce And that other called was I meyne Off hir beaute inly souereyne Edyppus ay deuoyde of werre and stryfe with Jocasta ladde a mery lyfe Tyll fortune or his iniquyte Hadde enuye of his prosperyte For whan he shone moost riche in his renoune Fro her whele she plonged hym adoune Oute of his Joye in to sondayne woo As she is wonte frowardly to doo And namely hem that setten her affyaunce On erthly truste in her varyaunce For whan this kynge passyng of grete myghte Sate with the quene vpon a certeyne nyghte Casuelly whan his folke echone Oute of his chambre sodeynly were gone Or he was ware Jocasta gan beholde The carectes of his woundes olde Vpon his feet enprented woundes depe Tournynge her face brast oute for to wepe Soo secretly he myghte it not aspye And she anone felle in to a fantasye Ay on this thynge musynge more and more And in her bedde gan to sygh sore And whan the kynge conceyued her dystresse He gan enquere of her heuynesse Fully the cause and occasyon For he wolde wyte in conclusyon what her eyleth and why she ferde soo My lord quod she withoute wordes moo Parcelle cause of this sodeyne rage Is for I in my tender age Hadde a lorde I named Layus Lrynge of this towne a man right vertuous By whome I hadde a sone wonder fayre Lykely to haue ben his successour and heyre But by cause his dyuynours tolde Atte his byrthe sothly that he sholde Yf he haue lyfe by fatall destenye Slee his fader it myghte none other be For whiche the kynge his face to eschue Badde me in haste as hym thoughte due To slee the childe and haue therof noo routhe And I anone badde withoute slouthe To certayne men vpon payne of Jugemente To excecute the commaundemente Of the kynge as I gaaf hem in charge And forthe they gone to a foreste large Adiacente to this countree Percen they his feet and hangynge on a tree Not perfourmynge the execucyon On hym they hadde suche compassyon Lefte hym there and home resorte agayne Beynge in doubte and in none certayne Atte her repayre as they tolde alle Of this childe what afterwarde is befalle Saaf they sayde hunters haue hym founde whiche lad hym forthe and his feet vnbounde But to what coste they coude not declare whiche percell is of myne euell fare Grounde and cause of myne heuy chere Consydered eke the woundes that appere Vpon youre feet and wote not what they mene And one thynge is ay atte myne herte grene My lorde alas but of newe date Lrynge Layus slayne was but late Atte a castell nye by this countree Vpon youre comynge in to this Cytee Alle this I wayed and rekened in to one Makynge myne herte heuy as ony stone Soo that I can counseyle none ne rede And with that worde the kynge lyfte vp his hede And abarayed with sharpe syghes smerte And all this thynge by ordre gan aduerte Ceryously by good aduysemente And by sygnes clere and euydente Conceyueth well and sore gan repente It was hymselfe that Jocasta mente And whan the quene in maner sawe hym playne By her goddes she gan hym to constrayne To shewen oute the cause of his affraye
men myght see many strange gyses Of armyng newe and vncouthe deuyse Euery man after his fantasye That yf I sholde in order specyfye Euery pees longyng to armure And therupon doo my besy cure It were in south almoost a dayes werke And the termes ben also to derke To reherse hem clerely and to ryme I passe ouer oonly for lacke of tyme And telle I wolde forth of her lodgyng How Adrastus the noble worthy kyng Hath euery lorde lyke to his degree Receyueth well within his cytee And there they had lyke to her pleasaunce Of what nedeth fulsome habondaunce For man and horse plente of vytayle Commaundyng that noo thyng ne fayle That all these noble werreours Bothe hye and lowe and pooer saudyours I serued were of that they had nede For Adrastus prudently toke hede what vayleth a kyng to pay his peple truly her soude Full lyke a kyng touchyng her terme daye That they to forne were serued of her paye He was soo free hym lyste â–ª nothyng restrayne And noo man had cause to complayne Hunger thurste nor Indygence And in a prynce it is full grece offence Nota As clerkes sayn and a grece repreâ—e To suffre his people lyuen at myschefe It is full heuy and greuous in her thought If he habonde and they haue ryght nought He maye not both possede good and herte He to be riche and seen his people smerte He maye the body of poore well constreyne But her herte hath a full longe reyne Mauger his myght to louen at large There maye noo kyng on hertes sette a charge Nor hem cohercen from her lybertee Men seen full ofte how that thought is free For whiche eche prynce lorde and gouernoure And specyally euery conqueroure Lete hym beware for all his noblesse That bounte fredome plente and largesse By one accorde that they his brydell lede Leste of his people whan he hath moost nede He be defrauded whan he is but allone Than is to late for to make his mone Nota Howe loue auaylethe more a kynge thaÌ„ gold or grete rychesse But in his courte lete hym fyrste deuyse To exyle scarshede and couetyse Than is he lykly with fredome yf he gynne Loue of his people euermore to wynne To regne longe in honoure and contune Ay to encrease by fauoure of fortune And his enmyes manly to oppresse For loue is more than golde or grete richesse Golde fayleth ofte loue wyll abyde For lyste or deth by a lordes syde And the tresoure shortly of a kyng Standeth in loue aboue all thyng Fare well lordshyp bothe morowe and eue Specyally whan loue taketh his leue And who so lyste a myrrour for to make Of kyndly fredome lete hym ensample take Of Adrastus the manly kyng famous Soo lyberall soo bounteous Unto his people at all tyme founde Whiche made hym strong his fomen to confouÌ„de And loue oonly his enmyes to werreye All grece made his byddyng to obeye Of one accorde knyghtly by his syde All attones to Thebes for to ryde For tauenge syth they were soo strong The grete Iniurye and the Importable wrong Done to his sone and to his next allye As ye to forne haue harde me specyfye But whyle Grekes areste a whyle in pes I wyll resorte to Ethyocles Nota with Inne Thebes warly hath aspyed By his frendes as he was certefyed Of the Grekes hole the ordynaunce Her purpos eke and her purueaunce And therof had in herte a maner drede And fyrste he toke his counseyll and his rede Of the lordes and of the barons of the town And of the wysest of his regyon How he myght maken resystence Manly to standen at defence To be strong that there were noo doubte How ethyo cles made him strong ayen the comyng of the Grekes And in tho contrees adiacente aboute And eke â–ª also in foreyn regyons He hath withholde all the champyons And therupon he sente oute his aspyes And his frendes and his next allyes And all the worthy dwellyng enuyrowne Yonge fresshe and lusty he gadred in to towne Maskowede his walles and his hye toures And stuffed hem with many sadyoures Rounde aboute he sette many gonnes Grete and smale and some large as tonnes And in his hasty passyng feruente hete He spente his tresoure and gaf yeftes grete Unto knyghtes and worthy men of name And euermore to encrease his fame He yafe to lordes Jewels many folde Clothes of veluette of damaske and of golde To gete hym hertes sothly as I rede To helpe hym now in this grete nede And prudently purueyed hym to fome Of flesshe and fysshe and of wyne and corne Sette his Capyteyns erly and late with full styfe stronge at euery gate He made also by werkmen that were trewe Barbycans and bolwerkes newe Barres chaynes and dyches wounder depe Makyng his vowe the Cytee for to kepe whyle he lyueth despyte of all his foon And by his goddes of metall and of stoon Full ofte he swore bothe of herte and thought That it shall fyrste full dere ben a bought And many a man with pollax swerd knyfe To forne this towne fyrste shall lese his lyfe And there shall eke many sydes blede Or his brother peasybly possede The towne in peas lyke as Grekes wene But atte ende the trouth shall be sene Lete hym beware and well to forne prouyde For Adrastus on that other syde For his parte was not neclygente But on a daye helde a parlyamente All his lordes syttyng enuyron To dryue shortly a playne conclusyon And vp thappoynte the fyne of her entente But some thought full expedyente Of they procede to werke by thauyse Of one that was full prudente and right wyse And circumspecte in his werkes all A worthy bysshop in to age fall And called was sothly by his name How the bysshop aÌ„phio rax was seÌ„t for to come to the grekes Amphyorax of whome the grete fame Thrugh all the londe both est and south Among Grekes passyngly was couth A man in sothe of olde antyquyte And moost excepted of auctoryte Fyrste by reason of his hye estate And eke for he was soo fortunate In his werkes and was also secree with the goddes knowyng her pryuetee By graunte of whome as bokes specyfye He had a spyryte of trewe prophecye And coude a forne full openly dyuyne Thynges begonne how they sholde fyne And eke by crafte of calculacyon Gyue a dome of euery questyon And had in Magyk grete experyence And fynde coude by heuenly Influence And by meanyng of hye sterres A fynall dome of contek and of werres And wyst well as his goddes tolde And wyste well the trew ê“phecye of bisshop amphyorax That yf Grekes forth her Journey holde It tourne sholde platly this noo phage To grete myschyfe and to grete domage Of hem echone and in especyall The moost parte of the blode royall Thrugh all Grece it maye not be withdrawe In this vyage shortly shall be slawe And yf hymselfe with the
¶ This is the Royall Cyte of Thebes ¶ Here begynneth the prologue of the Storye of Thebes THan bryght phebus passed Phebus in Aryete was the Ram Myd of Aprell in to the Bo le cam And Satourne olde with Saturnus in Virgine his frosty face In Virgyne taken had his place Melencolyke and slouth of mocyoâ— And was also in thopposycyon Of Lucyna the mone moyste and pale Jupiter in capitecaÌ„cri That many shoure fro heuen made auale whan Aurora was in the morow red And Jupyter in the Crabbes hed Hath take his paleys and his mansyon The lusty tyme. and Joly fresshe season whan that Flora. the noble myghty quene The soyll hath clad in newe tender grene with her floures craftely meynte Branche bough with red whyte depeynte Fleâ—yng the baume on hylles and on vales The tyme in soth whan Canterbury tales Complet and tolde at many sondry stage Of estates in the pylgrymage Eueryche man lyke to his degree Some of desporte some of moralyte Some of knyghthode loue and gentyllesse And some also of parfyte holynesse And some also in sothe of Rybaudrye To make laughter in the companye Eche admytted for none wolde other greue Lyke as the Loke the Myller and the Reue The Loke Myller the Reue Aquyte hemselfe shortly to conclude Boystously in her termes rude whan they hadden well dronken of the bolle And eke also with his pylled nolle The Pardoner beerdles all his chyn Pardoner Glaly eyes and face of Lherubyn Tellyng a tale to angre with the Frere As openly the story can you lere worde by worde with euery circuÌ„staunce Echone I wryte and put in remembraunce By hym that was yf I shall not fayne Lhawâ—er Floure of Poeâ—es thorugh out of all Bretayne whiche sothly had moost of excellence In Rethoryke and in eloquence Rede his makyng who lyst the trouthe fynde whiche neuer shall appallen in my mynde But alwaye fresshe ben in myn memorye To whome be yeue pryse honour and glorye Of well sayeng fyrste in oure langage Lhyfe regystrer in this pylgrymage All that was â—olde forgetyng nought at all Fayned tales nor thyng hystoryall with many prouerbes dyuerse and vncouthe By rehersayle of his sugred mouth Of eche thynge kepynge in substaunce The sentence hole withoute varyaunce Voydynge the chaff sothly for to sayn Enlumynynge the trew pyked grayn By crafty wrytyng of his sawes swete Fro the tyme. that they dyde mete Fyrste the pylgrymes sothly euerychon Atte the Tabard assembled one by oon And fro Sothwerke sothly for to seye Atte the â—a bard in sou thwerke To Lanterbury rydynge on her weye Tellyng a tale as I reherse can Lych as the hoost assygned euery man Noon soo hardy his byddynge dysobeye The Oost And this whyle that the pylgrymes leye Atte Lanterbury well logged one and alle I not in soth what I may it calle Hap or fortune in conclusyon That me befelle to entre in to the toun The holy Saynt playnly to vysyte After my sykenesse vowes to acquyte In a Lope of blake and not of grene The discri uynge of the monke c. On a palfray Sclender longe and lene with Rusty brydell made not for the Sale My man toforne with a voyde male That of fortune toke myne ynne anoon where the pylgrimes were logged euerychon The same tyme. her gouernour the Oost Scondynge in halle full of wynde and boost Lyche to a man wounder sterne and fers whiche spake to me and sayd anone dan pers The wordis of the ost to the monke Dan domynyk dan Godfray or Llement Ye be welcome newly in to kent Though your brydell haue nother boos ne bell Besechynge you that ye wyll tell Fyrste of youre name and what couÌ„tre withoute more shortly that ye be That loke so pale all deuoyde of blode Vpon youre hede a wonder thredbare hode well arrayed for to ryde late I answerde my name was Lydgate Lydgate monke of Burye Monke of Burye nye fyfty yere of age Lome to this towne to do my pylgrymage As I haue hyght I haue there of noo shame Dan Johan qd he well brouke ye your name The wordis of the ost Though ye be sooll by th right glad and lyght Prayeng you to suppe with vs this nyght And ye shall haue made at your deuys A grete poddynge or a rounde hagys A fraunche moyse a tanse or a Froyse To ben a monke sclender is your coyse ye haue ben syke I dare myne hede assure Or lette fede in a faynt pasture Lyfte vp your hede be glad take noo sorowe And ye shold home ryde with vs to morowe Pars prima ¶ Here begynneth the Story of the destruccyon of the Lyte of Thebes SIrs quod I. syth of your curtesye I entred am in to your coÌ„panye And admytted a tale for to telle By hym that hath power to compelle I mene oure Ost gouernour guyde Of you echone rydynge here besyde Though that my wytt bareyn be dulle I wyll reherse a story wounderfulle Towchynge the Syege of destruccyon Of worthy Thebes the myghty royall toun Bylte and begonne of olde antyquyte Vpon the tyme. of worthy Josue By dylygence of kynge Amphyon Lheef cause fyrste of his foundacyon For whiche his fame whiche neuer shall awaye In honour floureth yet vnto this daye And in story remembred is and preysed But how the walles were on heyght reysed It is wonder and meruayle for to here But yf ye lyste I shall you platly lere The maner hole platly in sentence Vnder supporte of your pacyence As wryte myn auctour Bochas bothe two Rede her bookes and ye shall fynde it so Eueryche conclude lyche as his fantasye And thus full ofte gendred is enuye In folkes hertes of soleynce and pryde For suche as lyste not one 's to loke asyde To rewarde hem whan they lowe louâ—e And agayne kynde it is oute of doute That ony hede by recorde of the wyse How the poure peple supporteÌ„ be ren vp the state of a kâ—g Sholde the fote of dysdayne despyse whiche bereth hym vp who soo can take hede And susteyneth in his moost nede As his pyler and his suppoayle For fynally ne were the porayle Her berer vp and supportacyon Fare well lordshyp and denomynacyon Thorugh oute the londe of euery hygh estate wherfore me semeth more is fortunate Of Marcurye the swete sugred harpe Than Mars swerde whettyd kene and sharpe More accepted with aspectes good Than is this god with his lokes wood Nota What the goodlihede of a prynce auaileth to wyne the her â—is of his peple For humble speche with glad contenauÌ„ce Maye a prynce shortly auauÌ„ce Among his people hertes for to wynne Of Inwarde loue whiche wyll not twyne Than golde rychesse pryde or tyrannye Other dysdayne daungere or surquedye Or of lordes clerkes can reporte But that loue her crowne doo supporte The fyne is not in conclusyon Ensample
And it expowne and make noo delaye Croppe and rote shortly why that he Entred fyrste in to that countre Fro when he came and fro what regyoâ— But he her putte in delusyon As he hadde done it for the nones Tyll atte laste he brake oute attones Vnto the quene and gan a processe make Fyrste how he was in the foreste take wounded the feet and soo forthe euery thynge Of his serchynge how Polybon the kynge And hole the cause why he hym forsoke And in what wyse he the waye toke Towarde Thebes as Appollo badde And of fortune how he was ladde where that Spynx kepte the mountayne And how that he slowe â–ª also in certayne Lrynge Layus atte castell gate Towardes nyghte whan it was full late And to Thebes than he gan hym spede To fynde oute the stok of his kynrede whiche vnto hym gan wexe couthe For by processe of his grene youthe He founde oute well by rekenynge of his lyfe That she was bothe his moder and his wyfe Soo that all nyght and suyng on the morowe Atte twene hem twoo gan a newe sorowe whiche vnto me were tedyous to telle For therupon yf I sholde dwelle A longe space it wolde occupye Tragedia senecede Edyppo rege thebax But ye maye reden in a Tragedye Of morall Senek and fully his endynge His dooll his myscheef and his compleynynge How with sorowe and vnweldy age This Edyppus fylle in to dotage Loste his wytte and his worldely delyte And how his sones hadde hym in dyspyte And of dysdayne toke of hym noo kepe And bookes sayen his eyen oute he wepte And as myne auctour lyketh to deuyse As his sones rebuke hym and despyse Vpon a daye in a certayne place Oute of his hede his eyen he gan oute race And caste at hem he gan none other bote And of malyce they tradde hem vnder fote Fully deuoyde bothe of loue and drede And whan Edyppê° for myscheef was thê° dede withinne a pytte made in the erthe lowe Of cruelte his sones haue hym throwe werre than serpente or ony tygre wood Of cursed stok cometh vnkynde blood As in story ye maye reden here to forne All by the Rose growe oute of a thorne Thus of Edyppus whan he was blynd olde The wretched ende I haue yon playnly tolde For whiche shortly to man and childe I rede To be well ware and take hede Nota How euery man ought of dewte to do reuereÌ„ce to fader moder or ellis the wylfull vengaunce therof Of kyndly righte and conscyence To doo honoure and due Reuerence To fader and moder of what estate they be Or certaynly ellis they sholde neuer thee For whoo that is not to hem debonayre In speche in porte for to treate hem fayre Hem to obeye in honeste and drede And to cherysshe of what they hadde nede I dare afferme exceptynge none estate That he shall fyrste be infortunate In all his werke bothe in see and londe And of what thynge he taketh on honde Fortune frowarde and to hym contrayre waste of his good playnly and appayre Fynde plente of contek warre and stryfe Vnhappy ende and shortyenes of lyfe And graceles of what he hathe to do Hatrede of god and of man also Therfore noo man be here of recheles But make youre myrroure of Ethyocles And his brother called Polymyte whiche in suche thynge gretely weve to wyte As ye shall here of hem how it fylle And whan we be descended doune this hylle And I passed here the lowe vale I shall begynne the remenante of my tale ¶ Explicit prima pars istius Codicilli ¶ Inmediate sequitur secunda pars eiusdem PAssyd the thorpe of boughton on the blee By my childern I gan anone to see Thrugh the sonne that full clere gan shyne Of the clok that it drowe to nyne And sawe also the syluer dropes shene Of the dewe lyche perles on the grene Vapoured vp in to the ayre a lofte whan zepherus with his blowynge softe The weder made lusty smothe and fayre And righte attempred was the holsome ayre The same houre all the hole route Of the pylgrymes rydynge Rounde aboute In my tale whan I gan procede Rehersynge forthe as it was in dede whan Edyppus buryed was and graue How his sones the kyngdome for to haue Amonge hemselfe by full of mortall hate For the crowne gonne to debate whiche of hem Justely shall succede And the septure of the towne possede Aduertynge not nother to righte ne wronge But eche of hem to make her partye stronge And his quarell proudly to sustene From whoo 's hertes was deuoyded clene Of bretherhode the faythfull alyaunce False couetyse soo made hem at dystaunce Fully worchynge in to destruccyon And ruyne of this noble town Soo hote brente the hatred enuye of bothe twoo thorugh pompous surquedye That neyther wolde playnly in a poynte Other forborne they stode in suche desioynte How as they hadde of byrthe be foreyns Tyll of the towne the noble Cytezeyns Lmyghtes barons with many worthy lorde Shope awaye to make hem of accorde And to sette hem in quyete and in pes But for his parte this Ethyocles Alledge gan that he was fyrste borne For whiche of reason he oughte goo to forne In the cytee to be crowned kynge The coÌ„trauercy of the twoo bretheren Sythe by lawe there was noo lettynge For vnto hym longeth the herysage By descende and by tytle of age But Polymyte of full hye dysdayne All openly gan replye agayne And for his parte sayde in specyall Reason was none that he sholde haue all Regalye and domynacyon And the lorshyppe hole of the toun And he righte noughte oute of the Cyte Lyue in exyle and in pouerte Full concludynge withoute fere or drede Rather than it suffre he wyll be dede And thus alas thorugh her enuyous stryfe Atte ende eueryche loste his lyfe Atte grete myscheef as ye shall after here But thylke tyme. the lordes all I fere Full besely dyde her dylygence By grete auyse of full hyghe prudence To setten hem in quyete and in reste CouÌ„seylynge hem playnly for the beste To leue her stryfe of wysdome and reason A condescende to some conclusyon whiche to bothe myghte moost auayle That fynally thorugh her gouernayle The lordes all beynge tho presente They haue hem broughte to be of one assente Of one herte as brother vnto brother Eueryche of hem to regoen after other The coÌ„uen cyon of the twoo bretheren yere by yere as it come aboute Soo that the towne shall absente hym oute Fully that yere and hymselfe guye By his manhode and his chyualrye Haunte hymselfe in dedes marcyall whyle his brother in his see royall Holdeth his septure the Cytee to gouerne And whan the yere his cours hath ronne yerne And is come oute he shall haue repeyre To regne in Thebes lyke as lorde and heyre Therto receyue fully his dygnyte whyle that the other voydeth the Cyte Pacyently takynge his aduenture Tyll he agayne his
honoure maye recure Thus entrechange euery yere they shall That one ascendeth that other hath a fall They muste obeye of herte and take it wele Lyche as the tourne resorteth of the whele For this was hole the composycyon The wordes of the composicyon By twene the brethern and conuencyon Full knytte vp by grete auysemente Therfore the goddes by othe of sacramente Neuer after to grutche ne to varye But accomplysshen shortly and not tarye Lyche as ye accorde enrolled in the towne Fro poynte to poynte made mencyone But alder fyrste by reason of his age Ethyocles hadde thauantage To regne aforne to were a crowne Polymyte hastynge hym oute of towne Durynge that yere it maye none other bee Whyle his brother sate in his royall see Full rychely vpon fortunes whele And rode hym forthe armed bryghte in stele This Polymyte sothly as I rede Hymselfe allone on a Royall stede Withoute guyde all the longe daye Beynge aferde to kepe the hyghe waye In his herte hauynge suspecyon To his brother of malyce and treson Lest he pursued through his fals vnkynd blood To haue hym dede for couetyse of good That he allone myghte haue possessyone Durynge his lyfe fully of the towne For whiche in haste hauynge noo felawe Polymyte asyde gan hym drawe By a foreste Joynynge to the see Linowyng right nought the syght of the couÌ„tree Full of hylles and of hye mountayns Craggy roches and but few playns Wounder dredfull and lothsome of passage And therwith all full of bestes rage Holdynge his waye of herte noo thynge lyghte Mate and wery tyll it drowe to nyghte And all the daye beholdynge enuyrone He neyther sawe castell towre ne towne The whiche thynge greuyd hym full sore And sodeynly the see began to rore Wynde and tempeste hydously to aryse The reyne doune bete in full grysly wyse That man and beste therof was adradde And nye for fere gan to waxe madde As it semed by the wofull sowns And Tygres Beres Bores and Lyons Whiche for refute hemselfe for to saue Eueryche in haste drowe vnto his caue But Polymyte in this tempeste huge Alas the whyle he fyndeth noo refuge Nor hym to shronde sawe noo where no socour Tyll it was passed almoost mydnyghte hour The cloude voyde in heuen dyde appere A large space that the sterres clere Soo that this knyghte oute of a foreste large How Poly myte came in to the londe of Arge Gan approchen to the londe of Arge Seenge a paleys myghty of byldynge Of whiche Adrastus called was the kynge A manly man riche and wounder sage And ronne was somdele in to age Borne of the yle that called is Clyson And whylom sone of the kynge Chalon And for his wytte in story as is couthe He chosen was in his tender youthe Of all Arge to be crowned kynge Chyfe of all grece by recorde of wrytynge Nor by dyscente ne successyon But all oonly of free eleccyon Beholde of Arge the septure in his honde As moost worthy of all Grekes londe Loued and drad for wysdome and Justyce And as the story playnly can deuyse This worthy kynge hadde doughtres two Passynge fayre and righte good also It were to longe her beaute to dyscryue And the eldeste called was Argyue Argyue dei phyle Adrastus Deiphyle I named the seconde And Adrastus lyche as it is fonde This worthy kynge hadde sone none To succede after he be gone For whiche he was durynge all his lyfe Tryste in herte and passynge pensyfe But hole his truste and his hope stode By alyaunce of some worthy blode Brought in by meane of his doughters twayn That he shall be relessed of his payn Thorugh recomforte of some hye maryage And sothly yet full hye in his corage He troubled was by occasyon The dreme of adrastus of a bore of a lyon Of a sweuen and a vysyon Shewed to hym vpon a certeyne nyghte For as hym thoughte in his inwarde syghte Whyle he slepte by clere inspeccyon A wylde bore and a ferce lyon Possede shall the bestes in her rage His doughters twoo by bonde of maryage In shorte tyme. within a certayne daye whiche broughte his herte in full grete affraye But thynge in southe that destyne hathe shaê‘e Here in this worlde full harde it is tescape Eke merueylous a man teschue his fate And Polymyte of whome I spake late With the tempeste bete and all bereyned By grace oonly the cytee hathe atteyned Where Adrastus full statly of degree Thylke tyme. helde his Royall see The trouble nyghte myrke and full obscure Hathe broughte this knyght oonly by auenture Through the cytee enclosed with a wall Vnto the paleys chyffe and pryncypall Where as the kynge in his chambre alofte Laye in his bedde and slepte wounder softe Eke all his folke hadde her chambres cake Lyke as fortune peraunter hadde shape The selfe tyme. by cause it was soo late And casuelly noo porter atte gate As it hadde be righte for the nones And in a porche bylte of square stones Full myghtly enarched enuyrowne Where the domes and the plees of the towne Were execute and lawes of the kynge And there this knyght without more taryenge wery and mate fro his stede a lyght Hangynge the reyn in all the haste he myght Vpon his arme surer hym to kepe And layde hym doune and gan anone to slepe As hym semed that tyme for the beste And whyle he laye thus for to reste Of auenture there come a knyghte rydynge The worthyest in the worlde lyuynge Curteys lowly and righte vertuous As sayth my auctour called Tydyus Eureus in armes and manly in werkynge Of his byrthe sone vnto the kynge Of Calydonye a londe of grete renowne And he alas oute of that regyowne Eâ—yled was for he his brother slow As Scace of Thebes wryte the maner how All be that he to hym noo malyce mente For on a daye as they on houÌ„tynge wente In a foreste for herte and for hynde Soo as he stode vnder a grene lynde And casuelly lette his arowe slyppe He slow his brother called menalyppe Thrugh mortall sorte his honde was begyled For whiche he was banysshed and exyled As the lawe narowe sette his charge And for this caas he came fyrste to Arge In to the porche where Polymyte slepe Of auenture or he toke ony kepe The same nyghte hydously besaen with the tempeste of thonder wynde and rayn And fylle also anoye and grete domage Thrugh the foreste holdynge his passage As Polymyte hadde done beforne In perell ofte lykely to be lorne with bestes rage sette on euery syde Tyll of grace withoute ony guyde He rode thrugh Arge the grete myghty towne Streyte to the paleys and the chefe douÌ„gone Lyche as I tolde where Polymyte laye And atte his comynge made a grete afraye For he was blynd thorugh derknesse of the nyght And hym to guyde he founde noo lyght whan he came in of pryket ne of torche Tyll he vnwarly entred the porche And wolde
haue taken there his herbygage But Polymyte sterte vp in a rage Sodeynly awaked as I rede with the nyghynge of his proude stede And fyrste of all whan that he behelde A knyghte armyd vpon his breste a shelde And gan the maner of his araye aduerte Of verraye yre vpon his horse he sterte And cruelly gan tydynge enquere whennes he came or what he dyde there And badde in haste his answere to deuyse And Tydeus in full humble wyse Answered agayne of verray gentylnesse And sayde in sothe that of hygh dystresse Of the tempeste and the derke nyghte He dryuen was lyke an arrante knyghte Of nede oonly and of necessyte And hye constreynte of his aduersyte Take lodgynge where soo that he myghte And in that courte therfore he a lyghte withoute more thynkynge none outerage Nor to noo wyghte menynge noo domage Than Polymyte of malyce and hye pryde Tolde hym shortly he sholde not abyde Noo lenger there though he hadde it sworne For I quod he toke it vp beforne And wyll it kepe durynge all this nyghte I say the platly maugre all thy myghte Quod Tydeus that is noo curtesye Me to deuoyde but rather vylonye Yf ye take hede that seme a gentyll knyghte And I suppose ye haue noo tytle of ryghte To this lodgynge by waye of herytage More than haue I. for all youre felle rage And parde yet shall it be noo dysese Tyll to morow that doo me ese Of gentylesse oonly by youre leue To suffre me it shall lytyll greue But ay the more Tydeus spake fayre Polymyte was frowarde and contrayre And shortly sayd it geyneth not to stryue That of force he shall deuoyde blyue Or vtterly bytwene hem bothe twoo This thynge to trye he must haue a doo And Tydeus seeng noo better mene Full lyke a knyght in stele armed clene withoute abode faste gam hym spede wounder lyghtly for to take his stede And thus these knyghtes pompous and elate For lytyll cause fellen atte debate And as they ranne togyder on horse bake How Tydeus Polymyte stro fe for her lodgyng Eueryche on other fyrste her spere brake And after that full surquydous of pryde with sharpe swerdes they togyder ryde Full yrously these myghty champyons In her furye lyke Tygres or Lyons As they hurtle that all the paleys shoke And kyng Adrastus oute of slepe woke And made in haste his chamberleyns call And thrugh the courte his worthy knyghtis all Commaundyng hem to descende and se And reporte what it myght be This wounder noyse in his courte be nyght And whaÌ„ they sawe two strange knyght fyght In plates bryght and in thyk mayle withoute Juge they hadde grete meruayle And dysamayed of this vncouthe thyng As they founde tolde they to the kyng And Adrastus for derkenesse of the nyghâ— Fro his chambre with many torches lyght In to the courte is descended downe All his mayne stondynge enuyrowne Of these knyghtes hauyng full grete wounder And of manhode he putte hem fyrst asounder Hem commaundyng lyke a gentyll kyng To leue her stryte and cesen of her fyghtyng And entred in with a knyghtly loke And fyrst from hem her swerdes both he toke Affermyng eke as to his fantasye It was a rage and a grete folye Soo wylfully her lyues to in parte withoute Juge her quarell to departe And specyally in the derke nyght whan neyther of other myght haue a syght Chargyng hem on payne of her lyfe To desure and stynten of of her stryfe And Tydeus in all the haste he myght Full humbly fro his stede a lyght And right mekely with chere and contenauÌ„ce Putte hym hole in the gouernauÌ„ce Of Adrastus in all maner thyng And Polymyte made eke noo taryeng To a lyght also and wolde it not withseye The kynges byddyng lowly to obeye Soo as hym ought with due reuerence And as they stode both in his presence He gan enquere fyrste of her estate The cause also why they where atte debate Of her countrees sothly and her age He asked eke touchyng her lynage By dyscente of what stok they were borne And Tydeus his answere gaaf toforne Tolde playnly made noo lesyng How that he was sone to the kyng Of Calydonye and rightfull heyre therto And of thexyle the soth he tolde also As ye haue herde in the story radde And Polymyte with chere and face sadde Vnto the kyng touchyng his countree Sayde he was borne in Thebes the Cytee And Jocasta the grete famons quene His moder was withouten ony wene But of his fader whylom kyng and lorde For verraye shame he spake not a worde Oonly for he yf I sholde not fayne His fader was and brother bothe twayne The whiche in south he was full lothe to telle And eke the kyng wolde hym not compelle Of gentyllesse but badde withoute blame Of his byrthe for to haue noo shame For hole the caas and maner euery dele Touchyng his kyn the grouÌ„de he knew full well Lyche as it was by full clere reporte Enforsyng hym for to doo comforte with all his myght and his besy payne This manly kyng to these knyghtes twayne And to hem sayd aforne hym as they stode He wyst well that of worthy blode They were descended touchyng her kynrede And made his offycers in haste to lede The strange knyghtes beynge atte debate Thrugh his paleys to chambres of estate Eche by hymselfe for to take his ease And euery thyng in south that myght hem please was offred hem lyche to her estates And whan they weren dyseuered of her plates Cusshewes grenes and her sabatous Her harneys voyded and her habargous Twayn mantels vnto hem were brought Fret with perle and ryche stones wrought Of clothe of golde and veluett cremesyne Full rychely furred with armyne To wrappe hem in agayn the colde morowe After the rage of her nyghtes sorowe To take her reste tyll the sonne aryse And than the kyng in full prudente wyse Fyrste of all was nothyng recheles The knyghtes hertes to â—etten in pees That euer after I dare aferme it well Eche was to other as trewe as ony stele Durynge her lyfe bothe in werke and dede Vnder a knotte bounden of bretherhede And Adrastus the worthy kyng famous A feste made riche and plenteuous To these knyghtis hymself there at presente And after mete full goodly he hath sente This noble kyng for his doughters dere Of gentyllesse for to make hem chere To the knyghtes Icome fro soo fer And lyke in sothe as Lucyfer the ster Gladdeth the morow atte his vprysyng Soo the ladyes atte her incomyng with the stremes of her eyen clere Goodly apporte and womanly manere Contenaunce and excellent fayrenesse To all the courte broughten in gladnesse For the fresshenesse of her heuenly cheres Soo agreable was to the strangers Atte her entre that in specyall Hem thought it lyke a thynge celestyall Enhastyng hem in full knyghtly wyse Agaynst hem goodly to aryse And as they mette with humble contenaunce Full
to tell poynt by poynt Of hem that weren naked and enoynt How eueryche other lugge gan and shake Nor how the wymmen haue theyr leue take Of Theseus with full grete humblesse Thankyng hym of his worthynesse That hym lyste on her woo to rewe And how that he his fredome gan renewe with the wymmen of his hye larges I parted hath eke of his rychesse And how this duke Thebes eke forsoke And to Athenes the ryght waye toke with laurer crowned in sygne of vyctorye And the palme of conquest and glorye Dyde his honoure duely to Marte And how the wyÌ„men wepte whan they departe with kyng Adrastus home ayen to Arge How the kynge Adrastê° with the ladyes repeyred ayen home to Arge To tell all it were to grete a charge And eke also as ye sholde vnderstonde Atte gynnyng I toke noo more on honde By my promyse and in conclusyon But to reherse the destruccyon Of myghty Thebes shortly and noo more And thus Adrastus with his lockes hore Styll abode in Arge his Cyte Vnto his ende ye gete noo more of me Saaf as myn auctoure lyketh to compyle After that he lyued but a whyle For he was olde or the sege began And thought and sorowe soo vpon hym ran The whiche in sothe shorted hath his dayes And tyme sette deth maketh noo delayes And all his Joye passed was and gone For of his lordes a lyue was not one But slayn at Thebes ye knowen all the cas And what this kyng in Arge buryed was Full royally with grete solempnytee It was accompted in bokes ye maye see Foure hundred yere as made is mencyon Foure hundred yere to forn the fuÌ„dacoÌ„n of rome was thebes fynaly destroyed To forne the byldyng and foundacyon Of grece Rome soo Royally and soo large Whan the ladyes departed fro Arge To her couÌ„trees full tryste and desolate Loo here the fyne of conteke and debate Loo here the myght of Mars the myghty sterre Loo what it is to gynne a werre How it concludeth ensample ye maye see Fyrste of Grekes and next of the Lytee For eyther parte hath mater to complayne And in her stryfe ye maye see thynges twayne The worthy blood of all Grece spylte And Thebes eke of Amphyon fyrste bylte Withoute recure brought in to ruyne And with the soyle made playn as a lyne To wyldernesse tourned and deserte And Grâ—kes eke falle in to pouerte Both of her men and also of her good For fynally all the gentyll blood Was shad oute there her wouÌ„des were soo wyde To lose fynall vnto eyther syde For in the werre is none excepcyon Of hye estate nor lowe condycyon But as fortune and fate bothe I fere Lyste to dyspose with her double chere And Bellona the goddesse in her chare A forne prouydeth therfore eche man beware Vnauysed a werre to begynne For noo man wote who shall lese or wynne And harde it is whan eyther parte leseth And doubteles neyther of hem cheseth That they muste in all suche mortall rage Maugre her lyste folowe grete domage It maye not be by mannes myght restrayned And werre in soth was neuer fyrste ordeyned But for synne folkes to chastyse And as the byble truly can deuyse Nota How that werre fyrst began in heuen by pryde surque dye of proude Lucyfer Hye in heuen of pryde and surquedye Lucyfer fader of enuye The olde serpente he Leuyathan Was the fyrste that euer wâ—rre began Whan Mycaell the heuenly champyon With his fers vaynquysshed the dragon And to helle caste hem downe full lowe The whiche serpente hath the bockell sowe Through all eâ—th of enuye and debate That vnnethes is there none estate Withoute stryfe can lyue in charyte For euery man of hye and lowe degre Enuyeth now that other sholde thryue And grouÌ„de and cause why that men so scryue Is couetyse and false ambycyon That eueryche wolde haue domynacyon Ouer other and trede hym vnder fote Whiche of all sorowe gynnyng is and rote And cryste recordeth rede the boke ye maye se For lack of loue what myschyfe there shall be For oo people as he dooth deuyse Surget gens contra genteÌ„ Luce xxi Agayn another of hate shall aryse And after tellyth what dyuysyons There shall be at wene regyons Eueryche besyde other to expresse And all suche stryfe as he bereth wytnesse Lralendes ben I take his worde to borowe And a gynnyng of myschyfe and of sorowe Men haue it founde by experyence But the venym and the vyolence Of stryfe of werre of contek and debate That maketh londes bare and desolate Shall be proscrypte and voyded oute of place And Martys swerde shall noo more manace Nor his spere greuous to sustene Shall now noo more whetted be soo kene Nor he noo more shall his hauberk shake But loue and peas in hertes shall awake And charyte bothe in lengthe and brede Of newe shall her bryght bemes sprede Through grace oonly in dyuers nacyons For to reforme atwene Regyons Peas and quyete concorde and vnyte And he that is both one and two and thre Eke thre in one and souerayn lorde of pease Whiche in this exyle for oure sake these For loue oonly oure troubles to termyne For to be borne of a pure virgyne And lete vs praye to hym that is moost good That for mankynde shed his herte blood Thrugh besechyng of that heuenly quene Wyfe and moder and a mayde clene To sende vs peas here in this lyfe presente And of oure synnes parfyte amendâ—mente And Joye eternall whan we hens wende Of my tale thus I make an ende AMEN ¶ Here now endeth as ye maye see The destruccyon of Thebes the Lytee